Milford Planners Delay 26-lot Development

Preliminary plans for a 26-lot subdivision in Milford Township were tabled last night by the township Planning Commission after the board cited several concerns.

The planners decided not to act on Stonehedge Estates because the township's engineer and Bucks County Planning Commision raised several issues, including the removal of woodlands, street width and wetlands.

Proposed by H&L Development of Doylestown, the development of single- family homes would be built on an 111-acre parcel on the west side of Miller Road. Andrew C. Wirth, vice president of H&L, said the development's lots will range from two to 20.37 acres. The tract has one existing home.

The Bucks County Planning Commission noted that the plans didn't include the woodlands that will be removed. Wirth replied that the developers would do whatever the township asked. He said it would be possible to identify which trees would be removed from areas designated for the two detention basins and streets. However, he said, it would be difficult to designate which trees would be taken out on the individual lots because the homes will be custom- built.

In regard to streets, the developers went beyond the ordinance requirement of a 24-foot cartway and instead made the two thoroughfares 26 feet wide. The county planning commission recommended 18-foot streets. Wirth explained the wide streets by saying the original plans that H&L bought had the roadways at 26 feet. Also, the company's developments typically have wide streets, said Wirth.

Zoning officer Jeff Vey said the township's roadmaster prefers to stick with the 24-foot street for snow plowing purposes. Wirth was agreeable to the township requirement and said he'd reduce the width.

The county planning commission also noted that part of a proposed street would disturb wetlands. Wirth said the paperwork has already begun on securing the necessary permits or waivers from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Wirth said he expected the two detentions basins would be maintained by two lot owners. Since the basins are relatively "passive," Wirth said the homeowners would only need to mow the area. He suggested that H&L put money into an escrow account, which the township can use when the detention basins would need major work. The planners agreed with that idea.